VOA标准英语2008年-Turkey Strikes Kurdish Bases in Northern Iraq

The Turkish air force launched a series of air strikes Saturday and early Sunday against bases of the Kurdistan Workers Party in northern Iraq. Dorian Jones reports for VOA from Istanbul Turkish forces are intensifying¹ their operations against the PKK rebels.

A military statement said 12 Kurdish rebel bases in northern Iraq were targeted by the Turkish air force early Sunday. It also said all its planes returned safely. The attacks centered on the Qandil mountains near the Iraqi-Iranian border.

It is believed the region is the base for most of the leadership of the Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK. A pro-Kurdish news agency confirmed the raid, saying it lasted two hours.

The same agency said the attack had caused panic among civilians³. No figures were given for rebel or civilian² casualties. But with strikes occurring in a mountainous sparely populated region, civilian causalities are rare.

Ankara accuses the PKK of using neighboring Northern Iraq as a base to launch strikes against its forces in Turkey.

On Thursday, Turkey carried out air strikes on 13 suspected PKK targets in the Zap region of northern Iraq. Turkish forces in the past few months have launched numerous air strikes against rebel bases in the region.

Earlier this year, Turkish soldiers entered Iraq in a week-long operation. Such operations against the PKK have been enhanced by U.S. intelligence information.

Retired⁴ Turkish General Haldun Solmazturk says these attacks are part of a psychological war against the rebels

"It will achieve above all a psychological effect that will carry the message to the PKK that northern Iraq is not a safe haven⁵ and it can be reached by anytime by the Turkish state," he said.

Ankara claims to have killed more than 40 rebels in the past few weeks during intense fighting between Turkish forces and the PKK in southeast Turkey close to the Iraqi border. More than a dozen Turkish solders⁶ were also reported killed.

Since 1984, the PKK has been fighting for self rule for predominantly Kurdish southeast of Turkey. Nearly 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict, the majority of whom were civilians. The PKK is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department and the European Union.

Earlier this month three German mountaineers were kidnapped by the PKK in eastern Turkey, in protest of a crackdown by Berlin on its activities in Germany. The mountaineers were later released.

The Kurdish rebels are facing increasing pressure in Europe as well as in Turkey and Iraq, but Ankara is also facing international calls to pursue a political solution to the conflict.

1 intensifying   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的现在分词 )；增辉

参考例句：

• The allies are intensifying their air campaign. 联军部队正加大他们的空战强度。 来自辞典例句
• The rest of the European powers were in a state of intensifying congestion. 其余的欧洲强国则处于越来越拥挤的状态。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

2 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

5 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

6 solders   

n.焊料，焊锡( solder的名词复数 )v.（使）焊接，焊合( solder的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• We fused the pipes with solders. 我们用焊锡熔接管子。 来自辞典例句
• Solders ate a great number of potatoes during World War II. 第二次世界大战期间的士兵吃了很多的土豆。 来自互联网